Massachusetts Public Higher Education

Massachusetts Public Higher Education is a system with a distinguished past, recognized as having one of the nation’s most outstanding array of institutions. It is comprised of 15 community colleges, nine state universities, and the five campuses of the University of Massachusetts. The system exists to provide accessible, affordable, relevant and rigorous programs that adapt to meet changing individual and societal needs for education and employment. The public system is committed to continuous improvement and accountability in all aspects of teaching and learning. The Board of Higher Education, together with each respective Board of Trustees, expects all students, faculty, and staff to be held to exacting standards in the performance of their roles and responsibilities.

Massachusetts Community Colleges Mission Statement

Massachusetts Bay Community College (MassBay) is one of the 15 community colleges within the Commonwealth’s public higher education system, a system that offers open access to high quality, affordable academic programs, including associate degree and certificate programs. Massachusetts’ community colleges are committed to excellence in teaching and learning, and provide academic preparation for transfer to four-year institutions, career preparation for entry into high-demand occupational fields, developmental coursework, and lifelong learning opportunities.

Community colleges have a special responsibility for workforce development, and through partnerships with business and industry, provide job training, retraining, certification, and skills improvement. In addition, they assume primary responsibility within the public system for offering developmental courses, programs and other educational services for individuals who seek to develop the skills needed to pursue college-level study or to enter the workforce.

Rooted in their communities, the colleges serve as community leaders, identifying opportunities and solutions to community problems and contributing to the region’s intellectual, cultural and economic development. They collaborate with elementary and secondary education and work to ensure a smooth transition from secondary to post-secondary education. Through partnerships with baccalaureate institutions, they help to promote an efficient system of public higher education.

The community colleges offer an environment where the ideas and contributions of all students are respected. Academic, personal and financial support services are provided to ensure that all students have an opportunity to achieve academic and career success. No eligible student shall be deprived of the opportunity for a community college education in Massachusetts because of an inability to pay tuition and fees.

MassBay Overview

MassBay is a comprehensive, open-access community college, offering over 70 associate degree and certificate programs. The College is dedicated to providing rigorous programs of study and unified support services that promote student retention, graduation, transfer, and employment. MassBay provides its diverse student body with a dynamic learning environment that encourages innovation, incorporates current technology, and fosters a learner-centered student experience. The College partners with high schools, four-year colleges and universities, and business and industry to provide clear educational and career pathways for students.

The MassBay Mission

Your dreams. Our mission.

MassBay Community College fosters educational excellence and student success, prepares students for local and global citizenship, anticipates and responds to the needs of surrounding communities, and contributes to evolving regional economic development.

MassBay in the Community

MassBay cares about the communities it serves, and the College strives to instill in its students, staff, and faculty the importance of the arts and culture, civic pride and volunteerism. Through alliances with various organizations, MassBay supports the diversity of its communities and offers students involvement and leadership opportunities in a wide range of rewarding activities. MassBay is proud to be the home of several artists in-residence, including the Wellesley Symphony Orchestra, All About Us Performing Arts, MassBay Players, MetroWest Youth Symphony Orchestra, and Newton Country Players. Events are normally free to the MassBay community and open to the public.

The Massbay Values

MassBay is an affordable, open-access public institution, which meets the immediate and long-term needs of diverse students and communities that the College serves.

Communication

MassBay is committed to a culture of open communication and transparency.

Diversity

MassBay values and pursues diversity, and teaches students the importance of inclusion and collaboration in a global context.

Professional Development

MassBay invests in professional development for faculty and staff to ensure the excellence of its programs and services.

Respect

MassBay promotes mutual respect and creates a forum for vigorous questioning and debate among faculty, staff and students.

Accreditation

MassBay Community College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (formerly the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc.)

Accreditation of an institution by the Commission indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality periodically applied through a peer-group review process. An accredited college or university is one that has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation.

Accreditation by the Commission is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.

Inquiries regarding the accreditation status by the Commission should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution Individuals may also contact: